Leon hated coming home to silence.
Mikhail was already there, standing at the window with a mug in hand, steam curling near his lips. His black hair was loose for once, strands of silver catching the light. He looked like something carved from calm.
Leon shut the door too hard.
Mikhail didn't flinch. "Rough night?"
Leon ran a hand through his hair. "We need to talk."
"Ah," Mikhail said, sipping his tea. "My favorite phrase."
Leon sat down across from him, every muscle tense. "I think… I think I might be developing feelings for someone else."
Mikhail didn't react. He didn't blink. He just raised one brow slowly, like it was a new piece of information on a file he'd already memorized.
"Someone else?" he repeated, neutral.
Leon swallowed hard. "Yeah. I'm not proud of it. I didn't plan it. I didn't even want it. But—"
Mikhail burst out laughing.
Not cruel. Not hysterical. Just a soft, unbelievable laugh that made Leon pause mid-sentence.
"You think that's new?" Mikhail said, still grinning. "That you're stupidly obvious when you're confused?"
Leon blinked. "Wait—what?"
Still smiling, Mikhail set his mug down.
"Let's break up then," he said lightly.
The words hit Leon like a bullet to the chest.
"What?"
Mikhail shrugged. "You've got someone else. Happens." He looked down into his tea. "If it doesn't work out, you can come back. Maybe."
Leon stood up too fast. "You're not even mad?"
"Should I be?" Mikhail looked up now, cool and unreadable. "You said you didn't plan it. You're honest. I like that about you."
Leon stared at him, stunned. "You're really just—letting me go?"
Mikhail smiled, and this time, it didn't reach his eyes. "I don't hold people who don't want to be held, Leon."
And with that, he stood, brushed past him, and left the room.
The cat jumped up onto Leon's lap like it hadn't heard a thing. Leon just sat there, hands shaking slightly, unsure if he'd made the worst mistake of his life—or if he'd just been outplayed by someone he never fully understood.